Israeli soldier wounded by friendly fire

JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli soldier wounded during a clash with armed Palestinians on the Gaza border was hit by friendly fire, a preliminary investigation reportedly has found.

Two Palestinians, called terrorists in an Israeli military statement, who were discovered crawling near the security fence between Gaza and Israel were killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops Saturday night.

An Israeli soldier also was wounded in the exchange, and it was reported immediately after the incident that he was hit by one of the Palestinians. But an initial probe conducted Sunday said the soldier was hit by a fellow Israeli soldier due to poor visibility from bad weather conditions and darkness, Haaretz reported.

The investigation will continue, the Israeli army told Haaretz.

The soldier, who was seriously injured, is hospitalized at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.